Funnel insert for coffee cartridge

ABSTRACT

A coffee brewer includes a body portion and a solid funnel insert that holds a coffee cartridge. The funnel insert includes an inner cup portion and an outer cup portion. Heated water flows into the funnel insert through a brewer spray head and saturates the coffee cartridge to form coffee. The coffee flows through an exit hole in the inner cup portion of the funnel insert and collects in a coffee pot. The size of the exit hole can be adjusted for a desired taste of coffee. A plurality of elongated raised projections on a bottom portion of the inner cup portion extend radially from the exit hole and raise the coffee cartridge from the bottom portion, allowing the hot water to flow under the coffee cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a coffee brewer including afunnel insert that raises the coffee cartridge from a bottom portion toprovide improved quality coffee.

Coffee brewers are used to make coffee. One type of coffee breweremploys a coffee cartridge. A coffee cartridge includes a predeterminedamount of coffee contained within a sealed porous paper shell. Thecoffee cartridge is added to a funnel insert. When brewing is complete,the funnel insert is removed from the coffee brewer and discarded. A newcoffee cartridge can then be added to the funnel insert to make a freshpot of coffee.

A drawback to employing coffee cartridges is that they do not producethe same quality coffee as fresh ground coffee in an open coffee filter.When the hot water flows into the funnel insert containing the coffeecartridge, the water bypasses the bottom of the coffee cartridge that isflush against the bottom of the funnel insert. The hot water contacts areduced surface area of the coffee cartridge, weakening the coffee.

A wire funnel insert has been employed to allow hot water to flow underthe coffee cartridge. However, a drawback to the wire funnel insert isthat the water passes directly through the wire funnel insert, reducingthe strength of the coffee.

Hence, there is a need in the art for a coffee brewer including a funnelinsert that raises the coffee cartridge from a bottom portion thatprovides high quality coffee and overcomes the shortcomings anddrawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A coffee brewer includes a body portion and a solid funnel insert thatholds a coffee cartridge. The coffee cartridge is a porous paper shellthat contains ground coffee. Heated water flows into the funnel insertthrough a brewer spray head. The water saturates the coffee cartridgeand forms coffee. The coffee flows through an exit hole in the funnelinsert and collects in a coffee pot for serving.

The funnel inset includes an inner cup portion that contains the coffeecartridge and an outer cup portion. The inner cup portion includes abottom portion having a centered exit hole and a side wall angled withrespect to the bottom portion. The size of the exit hole can be adjustedfor a desired taste of the coffee.

The bottom portion of the funnel insert also includes a plurality ofelongated raised projections on the bottom portion that extend radiallyfrom the exit hole. The funnel insert also includes a plurality ofelongated raised projection on the side portion of the funnel insert.The elongated raised radially projections raise the coffee cartridgefrom the bottom portion of the funnel insert, allowing the hot water toflow under the coffee cartridge.

When making coffee, the coffee cartridge is placed in the funnel insert.Water from a brewer spray head fills the inner cup portion andcompletely saturates the coffee cartridge. The plurality of elongatedraised projections raise the cartridge from the bottom portion of thecoffee cartridge, and therefore the hot water does not bypass the bottomof the coffee cartridge. The coffee drains from the funnel insertthrough the exit hole and collects in a coffee pot.

These and other features of the present invention will be bestunderstood from the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings thataccompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a coffee brewer of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the coffee brewer of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the funnel insert of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the funnel insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the coffee brewer 20 of thepresent invention. The coffee brewer 20 includes a cord 23 that isconnected to an electrical source (not shown) that powers the coffeebrewer 20. The coffee brewer 20 includes a body portion 22 and a solidfunnel insert 24 having a handle 21 that contains a coffee cartridge 26.The solid funnel insert 24 includes an outer cup portion 27 and an innercup portion 25.

An operator pulls the handle 21 to move the funnel insert 24 between anopen position and a closed position. A hot water tank (not shown) storeswater that is heated and filtered through the coffee cartridge 26 in theinner cup portion 25 to make coffee. The coffee cartridge 26 is a porouspaper shell that contains ground coffee. The cartridge can also containother materials, such as loose tea. The coffee cartridge 26 can besquare, rectangular, or round.

When an operator wants to begin a brew cycle, the operator presses abrew switch 36. If the coffee brewer 20 is non-automatic, the operatorpours water into the coffee brewer 20. The brew switch 36 can be pressedby the operator to begin the coffee brewing cycle. The coffee brewer 20can be adjusted to brew the appropriate volume of coffee. The water inthe hot water tank is heated by a heater (not shown) and pressurized.

The heated water flows into the funnel insert 24 through a brewer sprayhead 66, shown in FIG. 4. The water from the brewer spray head flowsinto and collects in the outer cup portion 27. The water saturates thecoffee cartridge 26 and forms coffee. The coffee flows through an exithole 48 in the inner cup portion 25 and collects in a coffee pot 32supported on a shelf 34.

In one example, the coffee brewer 20 includes volume select switches(not shown) which can be pressed to adjust the volume of coffee brewed.The coffee brewer 20 can also include a hot water dispense switch or ahot water faucet 42. The hot water dispense switch or hot water faucet42 is pressed or pulled, respectively, by an operator to dispense hotwater from the coffee brewer 20 that does not flow through the coffeecartridge 26. The hot water dispensed can be used to make other hotbeverages, such as tea, etc. When the coffee is ready to brew and thewater in the hot water tank is heated, a ready to brew light 44 isilluminated.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the funnel insert 24 of the presentinvention. The funnel insert 24 can be made of plastic or stainlesssteel. The funnel inset 24 includes arms 58 that rigidly attach andcenter the inner cup portion 25 with respect to the outer cup portion 27and space the inner cup portion 25 apart from the outer cup portion 27.The space between the inner cup portion 25 and the outer cup portion 27can be varied. Preferably, the funnel insert 24 includes four arms 58that center the inner cup portion 25 with respect to the outer cupportion 27. Although four arms 58 are illustrated and described, it isto be understood that any number of arms 58 can be employed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner cup portion 25 includes a bottom portion50 having the exit hole 48 which is substantially centrally located inthe bottom portion 50. The bottom portion 50 is inclined downwardly withrespect to a horizontal plane towards the exit hole 48. The inner cupportion 25 also includes a side wall 52 that is angled with respect tothe bottom portion 50. The bottom portion 50 and the side wall 52 definea compartment 54 that receive the coffee cartridge 26. The outer cupportion 27 also includes an exit hole 64 that is substantially alignedwith the exit hole 48.

The size of the exit hole 48 in the bottom portion 50 can be adjusted toobtain a desired coffee taste. The larger the exit hole 48, the fasterthe hot water will exit the compartment 54 due to the increased size ofthe exit hole that receives the coffee cartridge 26, making the coffeeweaker. The smaller the exit hole 48, the slower the hot water will exitthe compartment 54 due to the decreased size of the exit hole 48, makingthe coffee stronger.

The inner cup portion 25 of the funnel insert 24 also includes aplurality of elongated raised projections 60 and 62 on the bottomportion 50 that extend radially from the exit hole 48. The plurality ofelongated raised projections 60 extend from the exit hole 48 and to theside wall 52 of the inner cup portion 25. The plurality of elongatedraised projections 62 extend from the exit hole 48 and upwardly alongthe side wall 52 of the funnel insert 24.

The elongated raised projections 60 and 62 raise the coffee cartridge 26from the bottom portion 50 of the funnel insert 24, allowing the hotwater to flow under the coffee cartridge 26. That is, the hot water isable to flow between the bottom portion 50 and the bottom surface of thecoffee cartridge 26. This increases the surface area of the coffeecartridge 26 that is contacted by the hot water, increasing the brewingstrength of the coffee cartridge 26. The elongated raised projections 62prevent the coffee cartridge 26 from sticking to the side wall 52 of thefunnel insert 24. The elongated raised projections 62 also center thecoffee cartridge 26 relative to the funnel inset 24.

In one example, the elongated raised projections 60 and 62 alternate.That is, each elongated raised projection 60 is between two elongatedraised projections 62. In one example, there are six elongated raisedprojections 60 and six elongated raised projections 62. However, it isto be understood that any number of elongated raised projections 60 and62 can be employed.

When making coffee, the coffee cartridge 26 is placed in the inner cupportion 25 of the funnel insert 24. When the funnel insert 24 isinserted into the coffee brewer 20, the coffee cartridge 26 is near thebrewer spray head 46, preventing the coffee cartridge 26 from floating.When the coffee brewer 20 is operational, hot water from the brewerspray head fills the compartment 54 of the inner cup portion 25 of thefunnel insert 24 and completely saturates the coffee cartridge 26,forming coffee. The elongated raised projections 60 and 62 raise thecoffee cartridge 26 from the bottom portion 50 of the coffee cartridge26, and therefore the hot water does not bypass the bottom of the coffeecartridge 26, but flows under it. The coffee drains from the funnelinsert 24 through the exit hole 48, flows through the exit hole 64 inthe outer cup portion 27, and collects in a coffee pot 32 for serving.The side wall 52 also assist in draining the coffee from the compartment54.

The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of theinvention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within thescope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwisethan using the example embodiments which have been specificallydescribed. For that reason the following claims should be studied todetermine the true scope and content of this invention.

1. A coffer brewer comprising: a removeable insert including: an outercup portion, and an inner cup portion received in the outer cup portion,and the inner cup portion includes a bottom having an exit hole and aside wall that define a compartment, and said bottom includes anelongated raised projection.
 2. The coffee brewer as recited in claim 1wherein a coffee cartridge is received in said inner cup portion.
 3. Thecoffee brewer as recited in claim 1 further including a brewer sprayhead, and said brewer spray head delivers hot water that flows into saidinner cup portion.
 4. The coffee brewer as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid inner cup portion is substantially centered with respect to theouter cup portion.
 5. The coffee brewer as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid inner cup portion is attached to said outer cup portion by arms. 6.The coffee brewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said side wall issubstantially angled with respect to said bottom.
 7. The coffee breweras recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated raised projection extendsfrom said exit hole to said side wall.
 8. The coffee brewer as recitedin claim 1 further including a plurality of elongated raisedprojections, and said plurality of elongated raised projections extendradially from said exit hole to said side wall.
 9. The coffee brewer asrecited in claim 1 further including a plurality of elongated raisedupwardly extending projections that extend radially from said exit holeto said side wall and upwardly along said side wall.
 10. The coffeebrewer as recited in claim 9 wherein said plurality of elongated raisedprojections and plurality of elongated raised upwardly extendingprojections substantially alternate.
 11. The coffee brewer as recited inclaim 1 wherein said outer cup portion includes an outer exit hole. 12.The coffee brewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said exit hole iscentrally located in said bottom.
 13. The coffee brewer as recited inclaim 1 wherein said insert is substantially solid.
 14. A coffer brewercomprising: a removeable insert including: an outer cup portion, and aninner cup portion received in the outer cup portion, and the inner cupportion includes a bottom having an exit hole and a side wall thatdefine a compartment, and said bottom includes a plurality of elongatedraised projections that extend radially from said exit hole; and abrewer spray head, and said brewer spray head delivers hot water intosaid compartment of said inner cup portion.
 15. The coffee brewer asrecited in claim 14 further including a plurality of elongated raisedupwardly extending projections that extend radially from said exit holeto said side wall and upwardly along said side wall.